French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said Wednesday he hoped outgoing US President Bill Clinton will remain committed to the Middle East peace process until the end of his mandate in January.

"President Clinton personally threw his weight behind the Middle East peace process like no other president -- even more than Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon and other presidents," Vedrine told French television. "His work in that area was admirable even if it hasn't yet led to a (long-lasting) accord."

Vedrine said although the United States this week would have a new president, he hoped Clinton would remain committed to the Middle East peace process until he leaves the White House in January.

The US president is due to hold separate talks on Sunday with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in a bid to revive the stalled peace process and end the latest spate of bloodletting between the rival sides – PARIS (AFP)